Event Details

The Ramblers helps everyone, everywhere enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. Everyone who gives their time freely to help us do that is a volunteer. Whether that’s helping to run a local area or group, clearing a path, leading a walk, lobbying a councillor, researching a walking route, baking a cake for a social event or even chairing the Board of Trustees. We depend on you to deliver our mission, and we want to make sure you get the training you need to do this.

We are running a programme of 13 Volunteer Development Days throughout Great Britain during 2015. All these events are free to our members.

At each event a number of different workshops are offered. These run simultaneously. So you have to choose which one to attend.

Some run for the whole day. If you choose one of these workshops, this will be the only workshop you can attend.

Some run for half a day. If you choose one of these workshops in the morning, you can also choose to attend another half-day workshop in the afternoon.

You’ll see that there are a limited number of spaces at each session. This is due to the sizes of the rooms at our venues so once all the spaces are taken, we can’t accept any more bookings. However there are sometimes cancellations so if there’s a particular workshop you want to attend which is fully booked, keep an eye out to see if places come up again.

Full day workshops

If you choose one of these workshops, it lasts for whole day and you cannot book on to any of the other workshops.

Ramblers routes

This practical workshop is designed to help members learn the skills needed to develop great walking routes. The training will cover what makes a good route, stages of route development, developing a route card and how to check routes. The afternoon will be spent outside developing and checking routes in practice.

Remember, this is a full-day workshop so if you choose this it will be the only workshop you can attend on the day.

Developing area and group plans for volunteering

Volunteering is at the heart of what we do, attracting and recruiting new volunteers is therefore crucial for the survival and smooth running of our Area and Group activities. We know most Area and Group Committees at some point struggle to recruit new volunteers so this training day intends to give you the tools to recruit new volunteers whilst supporting and reward existing volunteers. By the end of this training day, you will have a plan on how you want to recruit new volunteers and know what your next steps would be.

Remember, this is a full-day workshop so if you choose this it will be the only workshop you can attend on the day.

Talking about walking: how to promote your Ramblers group

The course will look at how to write effectively for the web, top tips for using social media, how to write a press release and get it published, as well as a general introduction to communicating on behalf of the Ramblers. The course is designed to give you the skills you need to effectively promote your area or group.

The course is suitable for complete beginners, as well as those looking to refresh or stretch their skills.

Remember, this is a full-day workshop so if you choose this it will be the only workshop you can attend on the day.

Morning workshops

If you would like to attend any of these workshops, you may also choose a workshop to attend from the afternoon list.

The Big Pathwatch

In June 2015 we’re launching The Big Pathwatch, an exciting new project to coincide with our 80th anniversary. We want to survey every right of way in England and Wales, to gain a picture of the condition of entire path network (the first time this has ever been done). We believe it’s a great opportunity to engage not just our members and volunteers but a wider audience too, including young people and families, so that more people care about their paths. Hopefully this will lead to more volunteers in your group! Come and find out more about what we’re doing and how you can get involved.

Leading walks - group management skills

This session includes how to plan and lead a walk, including what to do before, during and after. It is suitable for leaders new and old.

Basic rights of way law and changes to the path network

This session is an overview of the law relating to rights of way and access it covers some of the most common questions we get asked about by members of the public and volunteers. It will then look into how changes can be made to the path network and guides whether or not to object.

Fighting cuts to path budgets (repeated in the afternoon)Do you want the local authority to do more to about blocked footpaths, or improve rights of way? Join Ramblers’ Campaigns Officer for an ideas sharing session on how to plan an effective campaign and build solid partnerships to influence local and national decision makers, campaign tactics and more.

Afternoon workshops

If you would like to attend any of these workshops, you may also choose a workshop to attend from the morning list.

Beyond health walks: the benefits of short walks for everyone

In this session we will explore how running shorter walks and making links with health walks can benefit your Ramblers group or Area. Find out how these can attract new volunteers, new members, and keep walkers walking whatever their age. Learn something new or share your ideas and experiences – all training is based on ideas tried and tested by Ramblers walk leaders. This session includes the chance to make a personalised ‘action plan’ with ideas to try after the workshop. Note this session is a repeat of the morning.

Fighting cuts to path budgets (repeat of morning session)Do you want the local authority to do more to about blocked footpaths, or improve rights of way? Join Ramblers’ Campaigns Officer for an ideas sharing session on how to best use campaign tactics and employ key messaging to influence local decision makers, campaign tactics and more.

An introduction to map reading and navigation

This session is for anyone who would like to learn basic navigation skills. It covers map types, map features, understanding grid references and how to take and follow a compass bearing.

Rights of way - specialist areas

This session can cover a range of topics - rights of way and development; definitive maps and lost ways; dealing with problems. If you sign up to attend we will be in touch before the event to find out which you would like us to focus on.

Expenses guidance and refreshment arrangements

Lunch and refreshments throughout the day are provided. Volunteers can claim travel expenses from Central Office, to a maximum of £50 per person on public transport, or £50 per car journey. We hope you will consider lift-sharing. And we’re always grateful if you can, to donate these costs back to help continue to fund our work.

If you would like to attend but would find it impossible to travel within that budget, please get in touch. We can be flexible in exceptional cases.

For public transport information please visit www.traveline.info. Please look at the venue website for details of any car parking available. We have not made any specific arrangements for the VDDs so if the venue does not have parking facilities we recommend using public car parks: http://en.parkopedia.co.uk/.

Saturday, 4 July 2015 from 09:30 to 16:00 (BST)

Organiser

Ramblers

The Ramblers helps everyone, everywhere, enjoy walking and protects the places we all love to walk. We are the only charity dedicated to looking after paths and green spaces, leading walks, opening up new places to explore and encouraging everyone to get outside and discover how walking boosts your health and your happiness.

The leading voice on walking matters, nationally and near you; we protect, maintain and keep an expert eye on every single path you walk. Because of us, you can explore the wilds of the Scottish countryside, walk along the pioneering Welsh Coast Path and enjoy England’s stunning national parks and trails.

Whether you’re just taking your first steps or are a seasoned walker, we can provide the expert advice and support you need to get the most out of the great outdoors. From our vast range of group walks to our expertly developed Ramblers Routes, we offer thousands of ways to start and keep you walking.

So if you love the great outdoors, enjoy the places you walk now and want to open up more of beautiful Britain, take an extra step and join us today. By becoming one of our members, joining our team of dedicated volunteers or simply supporting our work, together we can get everyone, everywhere walking.